Artificial denture.



No."792,618. PATENTED JUQTE 20, 1905. F. E. ROAGH.

ARTIFIGIAL DENTURE.

APPLIOATION FILED APE.9,1903.

UNITED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTIFICIAL DENTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,618, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed April 9, 1903. Serial No. 151,697.

To rtZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FINIs E. RoAoH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Dentures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates more particularly to an improvement in the construction and means for detachably securing porcelain or other artificial facings for artificial teeth to the base adapted to receive the same.

The invention is an improvement on my prior invention as set forth in my prior United States patent for an artificial tooth, No. 651,388, issued June 12, 1900.

The object of this invention is to provide means for detachabl y engaging the tooth-facings of porcelain or the like with the crown, plate, bridge, or other base in such a manner as to afford a very secure, yet slightly resilient connection, thereby the better adapting the structure to withstand the stresses due to mastication and permitting ready removal for repair if injured.

The invention for convenience is shown embodied in a pivot denture or crown, though obviously it is equally adapted for plate or bridge dentures.

The invention embraces many novel features; and it consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in front elevation of a device embodying my invention, showing the same embodied as a pivotdenture. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the construction, partly in elevation and partly in section and separated for clearness of illustration. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the attaching-plate. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. I. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the resilient diaphragm, showing the same removed from the attaching-plate. Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the diaphragm in position. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the facing pin or lug.

In said drawings a tooth-root A is shaped at the top to afford a flat seat or base for a crown and drilled, as usual, to receive a central downwardly-extending pin or dowel Z), secured on the under side of a cap or metal base B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Said base is secured to said pin at an angle to correspond with the inclination at the top of the tooth-root and is provided with a depending peripheral flange b, which extends down over the top of the root, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and affords a retaining-band for the top of the root and also protects the top of the root from decay in a familiar manner. Said base B may, if preferred, be struck up from a single piece, forming the flange I) integrally therewith, or the flange may be soldered or otherwise connected therewith, as preferred. Said base affords a flat upper surface for the attachment of the crown and may be inclined at an angle to adord the most effective seat or base possible for the crown, so that downward pressure upon the denture when completed is imparted perpendicular with said base, which thus receives the stress due to mastication at the most advantageous angle.

The attaching-plate C comprises a sheet of platinum or other suitable metal struck up from a single piece, as shown, and of a width corresponding with the width of the facing D to be applied thereto. Said attaching-plate, as shown, is bent at an angle to afford a bottom portion 0, adapted to rest fiat upon the labial side of the base B, and an upright portion 0, which extends approximately in aplane of the axis of the tooth. The upper or axial end 0' of said attaching-plate is stamped or pressed to provide a recess in the labial side thereof. The inner wall of said recess inclines downwardly and toward the lingual side of the denture, and at a point slightly above the base a transverse slot or aperture is provided extending through said plate, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. A narrow shoulder c is provided in each side of said recess, as shown in Figs. 4c and 5, which are parallel and also incline downwardly and inwardly.

A resilient diaphragm E is secured in said recess in the attaching-plate and, as shown, is constructed of sheet metal shaped at one end to lit closely against the shoulders in said recess and to provide upwardly-directed parallel spring-plates c, which, as shown more fully in Figs. 2, 3, and 7, are directed obliquely to the facing D and between which is a comparatively long narrow slot, as shown in Fig. 6. The upper ends of said spring-plates r incline toward said slot. As shown, said diaphragm is secured in said recess by means of an integral tailpiece or tang which extends through the aperture near the bottom of the recess in the attaching-plate, as shown in Fig. 3, and serves in part as brace between the attaching-plate and the base B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and also enables the parts to be more conveniently held in the proper relation during the building of the denture. The attaching-plate is usually soldered to the base B, as shown in Fig. 2. This may be conveniently accomplished by passing the tail or tang of the diaphragm E through the aperture in said attaching-plate, cutting the same to the proper length to rest on the base-plate, and soldering both the attaching-plate and tang to the base, as shown in Fig. 2. The lingual side of the denture is then filled with solder or the like to afford a finish, forming a backing for the attaching-plate and exceptionally strong construction, with the diaphragm secured in said recess of the attaching-plate, as heretofore described.

Beddcd in the facing l), of porcelain or the like, which is shaped to fitclosely in the angle of the attaching-plate, is a pin F, of platinum or other suitable metal, headed at each end, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, one of said heads f being bedded in the facing and affording secure attachment for the pin with the porcelain. The other end of said pin extends through and somewhat beyond the inner face of the porcelain facing, and the head thereon inclines outwardly and downwardly, said inclination being complemental with the inclination of the inner side of the diaphragm and is adapted to engage behind the same when the facing is inposition. Said pin, as shown, is comparatively broad vertically and thin laterally, being flattened centrally to engage in the slot in said diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby acting when inserted in position and pressed downwardly to draw the facing firmly downward and inward into engagement with the attaching-plate and wedging the same securely in place because of the inclination of the attaching-plate.

The operation is as follows: The attachingplate and diaphragm are secured in position. upon the base-plate previous to the attachment of the same to the root. The sides 6 of said diaphragm providedownwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces which when the head f of the pin F is inserted through said slot act to draw said facing downwardly and inwardly as the pin is forced downwardly in the slot. This draws the upper ends of the diaphragm outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, into bearing against the adjacent surface of the facing, the pressure therein increasing as said pin is forced downwardly into the slot. The pin thus acts to bring the base and inner face or surface of the facing into positive engagement with the attaching-plate, affording a tight joint. Obviously the sides a of said diaphragm act as resilient wedges engaging on each side of the head f, holding said porcelain facings with considerable pressure against the attaching-plate. Uhloro-percha or the like is ordinarily used as a cementing mate rial between the attaching-plate and facing, thus imposing a layer of resilient material between the same.

\Vhen cxcessive'strcss is applied upon the denture, as in mastication, the construction permits the structure to yield slightly, thus greatly relieving the stress upon the denture. It is evident, however, that there is no possibility of the facing becoming loose from mastication, inasmuch as any pressure exerted upon the facing acts to more firmly wedge the same in position. Obviously, however, should it ever become necessary to remove the facing it may readily be done by apply ing a slight upward pressure with a suitable tool at the joint, forcing the facing away from the attaching-plate and leaving the same exposed for inspection or repair. If preferred, the outer edges of the sides 1: of the diaphragm may be soldered to the shoulders 0 in which event the inner free edges on each side the slot will afford sul'licient resiliency, or the inner edges may be reduced in thickness in that event to increase resiliency, as preferred.

The invention affords an exceptionally strong bridge construction, inasmuch as the bend of the attaching-plate extends below the facing and when braced with solder provides a fulcrum for pressures remote from the pin. It follows that while 1 have shown my invention embodied in a pivot or crown construction I do not desire to be limited to such, inasmuch as it is obvious that plate and bridge dentures of every kind can be readily constructed in accordance with my invention and that many details of construction. may be varied without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In an artificial denture the combination with a base, of a facing of porcelain or the like, a pin secured therein, a head thereon directed obliquely and downwardly from the in- IIO ner side of the facing and means for securing the facing in position upon the base comprising a downwardly and outwardly inclined dia phragm rigidly attached to said base and having resilient edges thereon adapted to engage the pin.

2. A denture comprising a base, an attaching-plate having a base portion adapted to be secured on the base and a part directed axially of the denture and having a recess in said axial portion inclining downwardly and outwardly, a diaphragm secured on the base and protruding through said recess, a facing of porcelain fitted to said attaching-plate and means thereon adapted for engagement with said resilient diaphragm and acting when pressure is applied thereto to firmly engage the same in operative position.

3. A denture comprising a base, an attaching-plate having a base portion adapted to be secured on the base and a part directed axially of the denture and having a recess in said axial portion inclining downwardly and outwardly, a plurality of shoulders in the sides of said recess, a resilient diaphragm extending through said recess into engagement with said shoulders and at one end rigidly connected with the attaching-plate, a facing of porcelain fitted to said attaching-plate and means thereon adapted for engagement with said resilient diaphragm and acting when pressure is applied thereto to lirmly engage the same in operative position.

I. The combination with abase of an attaching-plate secured thereon and comprising an u pwardl y-directed axial portion having an oblique, downwardly-inchned surface thereon provided with a vertical slot, a slotted diaphragm extending therethrough and rigidly secured to the base a facing such as porcelain, a Hat, double-headed pin embedded at one end in said facing, thehead on the other end of which inclines outwardly and downwardly and is adapted to engage in said slot thereby securing the facing to the attaching-plate.

5. In an artificial denture the combination with a base, of an attaching-plate rigidly engaged thereon provided with an outwardlyinclined recess, a facing seated on said plate, resilient attaching means in said recess provided with a slot directed obliquely to said facing and an outwardly-inclined wedge memher carried on said facing and adapted to engage in said slot and draw the facing inwardly upon said plate.

6. A facing for artificial dentures comprising molded material such as porcelain, having a laterally thin pin baked therein at one end and at the other provided with an obliquely downwardly and outwardly inclined head.

7. In an artificial denture the combination with an artificial-tooth facing adapted to be secured upon a base, of an attaching-plate adapted to be fitted thereon and covering the inner side and end thereof, a resilient connection between said attaching-plate and facing comprising a slotted member extending through said plate and rigidly attached to said base, and a headed pin yieldingly engaged therein.

8. In an artificial denture the combination with an artificial-tooth facing, of an attaching-plate adapted to be fitted thereon and covering the inner side and end thereof and having a downwardly and outwardly extending recess therein, a plurality of oppositely-disposed shoulders in the walls of said recess, a resilient diaphragm extending through said plate and rigidly engaged on a base or the like, upwardly-extending arms on the upper end of said diaphragm adapted to be rigidly engaged on said shoulders, a headed fiat pin yieldingly engaged between said arms and a resilient cement such as chloro-percha between said facing and attaching-plate.

9. In an artificial denture the combination with a tooth-facing such as porcelain, of a laterally thin pin rigidly secured thereon, a head on the protruding end thereof, an attachingplate fitted to the inner face and base of the facing and having an outwardly-directed inclined recess therein, a diaphragm extending through said attaching-plate, upwardly-directed parallel spring-plates on said diaphragm provided with inwardly-inclined ends adapted to receive said pin and direct the head thereof behind said spring-plates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FINIS E. ROAOH. IVitnesses:

C. W. HILLs, A. O. ODELL. 

